Still Perfect: Crimson Beats Big Green
HANOVER, N.H.-Junior Jenny Brine scored the tie-breaking goal with 21 seconds remaining in the second period, and the second-ranked Harvard women's hockey team hung on to defeat No. 8 Dartmouth, 2-1, and remain the nation's only unbeaten team Tuesday night at Thompson Arena.
Harvard (7-0-0, 7-0-0 ECAC Hockey, 4-0-0 Ivy League) took over sole possession of first place in the Ivy League and posted its third straight win against a top-10 team. Dartmouth (7-2-1, 5-2-0) missed a chance to jump into a tie with the Crimson at the top of the ECAC Hockey standings.
Freshman Liza Ryabkina set up Brine's winning tally and assisted on junior Sarah Vaillancourt's goal just 22 seconds after the rival Big Green took a first-period lead. Vaillancourt also assisted on Brine's goal. Sophomore Christina Kessler made 28 saves.
Dartmouth seemed destined to survive a strong second period by Harvard until Ryabkina got the puck from Vaillancourt and fed it through the crease to a waiting Brine. The junior put it in for her fourth goal of the season and a 2-1 Crimson lead.
Harvard held a 13-6 advantage in second-period shots but was outshot by the same margin in the third, thanks to three Big Green power plays. The Crimson killed all three penalties, including two in the game's final seven minutes. Dartmouth's final advantage chance began with one minute, 21 seconds remaining, and the Big Green pulled its goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage. Kessler, however, stopped all three shots on the power play, and the Crimson held on for the win.
The Big Green finished 1 for 6 on the power play as Harvard killed its final five chances. The Crimson was 0 for 2 on the advantage for its first game without a power-play goal. Dartmouth held a 29-23 edge in shots, and goalie Carli Clemis made 21 saves.
Dartmouth took the lead with a goal on its first power play, as Amanda Trunzo scored with Maggie Kennedy and Jamie Cunningham assisting at 6:58 of the first period. The tally ended a streak of 20 straight successful penalty kills for Harvard.
Vaillancourt answered quickly with the game back at even strength, netting her fourth goal of the year. Ryabkina picked up the assist on the way to her second straight two-assist game. The Big Green held a 10-4 shot advantage in the period but could not net another goal.
Harvard turned the momentum in the second period but had no goals to show for it for most of the frame. After Kessler and the Crimson withstood a Trunzo chance late in a Dartmouth power play, Vaillancourt stepped out of the box and got two great shots on Clemis, but the Dartmouth goalie turned them away to keep the score tied until Brine put Harvard on top less than two minutes later.
Harvard will look to add to its seven-game winning streak this weekend as it travels to face Rensselaer Friday and Union, coached by former Crimson captain and assistant coach Claudia Asano, Saturday.
